As Adolf Hitler and the Nazis seduced a nation, bullied a continent, and attempted to exterminate the Jews of Europe, a small number of dissidents and saboteurs worked to dismantle the Third Reich from the inside. One of these was Dietrich Bonhoeffer—a pastor and author, known as much for such spiritual classics as The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together, as for his 1945 execution in a concentration camp for his part in the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

In the first major biography of Bonhoeffer in forty years, New York Times best-selling author Eric Metaxas takes both strands of Bonhoeffer’s life—the theologian and the spy—and draws them together to tell a searing story of incredible moral courage in the face of monstrous evil. In a deeply moving narrative, Metaxas uses previously unavailable documents—including personal letters, detailed journal entries, and firsthand personal accounts—to reveal dimensions of Bonhoeffer’s life and theology never before seen.

In Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy—A Righteous Gentile vs. the Third Reich, Metaxas presents the fullest accounting of Bonhoeffer’s heart-wrenching 1939 decision to leave the safe haven of America for Hitler’s Germany, and using extended excerpts from love letters and coded messages written to and from Bonhoeffer’s Cell 92, Metaxas tells for the first time the full story of Bonhoeffer’s passionate and tragic romance.

Readers will discover fresh insights and revelations about his life-changing months at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem and about his radical position on why Christians are obliged to stand up for the Jews. Metaxas also sheds new light on Bonhoeffer’s reaction to Kristallnacht, his involvement in the famous Valkyrie plot and in “Operation 7,” the effort to smuggle Jews into neutral Switzerland.

Bonhoeffer gives witness to one man’s extraordinary faith and to the tortured fate of the nation he sought to deliver from the curse of Nazism. It brings the reader face to face with a man determined to do the will of God radically, courageously, and joyfully—even to the point of death. Bonhoeffer is the story of a life framed by a passion for truth and a commitment to justice on behalf of those who face implacable evil.

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”  — DIETRICH BONHOEFFER

PRAISE FOR BONHOEFFER:  Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy — A Righteous Gentile vs. the Third Reich

“A welcome new biography of one of the 20th century’s leading lights.  Metaxas magnificently captures the life of theologian and anti-Nazi activist Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945), who ‘thought it the plain duty of the Christian—and the privilege and honor—to suffer with those who suffered.’  In the finest treatment of the man since Eberhard Bethge’s Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Man of Vision, Man of Courage (1970), Metaxas presents a complete, accessible picture of this important figure, whose story is inspiring, instructive and international in scope. …A definitive Bonhoeffer biography for the 21st century.”   — Kirkus Reviews

“Eric Metaxas tells Bonhoeffer’s story with passion and theological sophistication, often challenging revisionist accounts that make Bonhoeffer out to be a ‘humanist’ or ethicist for whom religious doctrine was easily disposable.  In Bonhoeffer we meet a complex, provocative figure: an orthodox Christian who, at a grave historical moment, rejected what he called ‘cheap grace’—belief without bold and sacrificial action…. Metaxas reminds us that there are forms of religion—respectable, domesticated, timid—that may end up doing the devil’s work for him.”  – The Wall Street Journal

“For anyone whose faith has been strengthened by the life and witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, this is the biography you have always wanted. Eric Metaxas has written a rich, detailed, and beautiful account of the great pastor and theologian who gave us The Cost of Discipleship and sacrificed his life for opposing Hitler. Metaxas’ Bonhoeffer is a monumental achievement and a deeply important work.”  — Greg Thornbury, PhD, Dean of the School of Christian Studies at Union University

“A captivating and inspiring read from start to finish. Sets the record straight on Bonhoeffer’s commitment to Scripture and his unyielding passion for truth that led him to give up his life in the battle to save the Jews of Europe. Buy it. This book could change your life.”  – James N. Lane, Founder, New Canaan Society; Former General Partner, Goldman, Sachs & Co.

“Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s great gift is that his understanding of faith in times of conflict speaks to generation after generation. Eric Metaxas’ Bonhoeffer is the biography for this generation. A masterpiece that reads like a great novel and weaves together in one opus an understanding of Bonhoeffer’s theology, the complex and tragic history of 20th century Germany, and the human struggle of a true Christian hero. Eric Metaxas is claiming his place as the preeminent biographer of Christianity’s most courageous figures.” — Martin Doblmeier, Filmmaker, BONHOEFFER

“With great skill, energy, and warmth, Metaxas reminds us why the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer stands as a rebuke both to believers and skeptics. Rarely has the story of a Christian martyr been told with such realism and depth. It’s a gem of a book.” — Joseph Loconte, Lecturer in Politics, The King’s College, New York City; Editor of The End of Illusions: Religious Leaders Confront Hitler’s Gathering Storm

“A stunning achievement recounting Bonhoeffer’s life with lucidity, historical detail, and a concretely contextualized handling of Bonhoeffer’s often misunderstood theological legacy. …Metaxas masterfully distills Bonhoeffer’s eventful and complex life into a true narrative biography that is comprehensive and vivid without being overwhelming.”  – Matthew Miller, Christianbook.com

Like his previous books in this style, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God:  THE JESUS EDITION is a book that takes questions about the Son of God seriously enough to get silly — where appropriate.  Metaxas covers questions about Jesus’ life — Did He live at all?, His death — If He truly was the Son of God, why did He have to die?, His resurrection – - Did Jesus really come back after death?, and much more.   Apologetics has never been so much fun!

PRAISE FOR Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (but were afraid to ask)…

“For his stylish and entertaining treatment of this subject, Metaxas deserves a prize.” —DICK CAVETT

“I am absolutely smitten with this book! Easy (in the sense of moving right along) and fun to read, but packed with good stuff to chew on. I wanted to put every question and answer on file cards, so I could whip out the appropriate response when asked. And all with a wonderful sense of humor. Thank you, Eric, Thank you for writing this book! Every question in it I have asked, have heard asked, or want to ask! And the answers are so good humored and easy to read that you almost forget how profound they are.” —ANN B. DAVIS, Alice of “The Brady Bunch”

“The difficulty is not to gush. Eric has written a wise, funny, and disarming book, one which will, I’m sure, be handed around dorms, churches, and anywhere smart, curious people (both believers and unbelievers) can get their hands on it. We have had a tugging match with our own 21-year-old college student to see who gets to read it first in our house. We plan use it at Redeemer everywhere we can.” — TIM KELLER, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NYC; New York Times Bestselling author of The Reason for God.

“Quick, witty, engaging, and often profound are words I use to describe my old friend and one-time colleague Eric Metaxas. This little book, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (But were Afraid to Ask) is vintage Metaxas. Good and profitable reading. — CHUCK COLSON, Founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries

“An excellent primer on the most important questions of life, engagingly presented in question-and answer format. A timely and useful book for a searching, spiritually hungry America.” — GEORGE GALLUP, JR., Founding Chairman of the George H. Gallup International Institute

Mega-best-selling author/illustrator Nancy Tillman (On the Night You Were Born) has teamed up with Eric Metaxas to produce It’s Time to Sleep, My Love, a gorgeously illustrated lullabye picture book destined to become the bedtime children’s classic of a new generation

Parenting magazine has called Eric Metaxas a “children’s book author non-pareil“. He has written over thirty children’s books, including the best-sellers Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving and God Made You Special (over 600,000 in print). He has been a writer for VeggieTales and his writing for Rabbit Ears has won three Grammy nominations for Best Children’s Recording.

What the critics are saying about It’s Time to Sleep, My Love:

“A luxuriant bedtime retreat for children and parents alike.”–Kirkus Reviews

“…comforting, fanciful imagery… culminating in a final scene of a sleeping child in a floating bed under a watchful moon, this gentle, tender offering will buoy children with its strong messages of safety and love.” — Booklist

Full review text: “With a rhythm similar to MemFox’s Time for Bed (1993), fishes croon, a turtledove coos, an otter utters and other animals otherwise sing bedtime praises to a tired little girl. What sets this lullaby apart are Tillman’s dramatic, digitally created illustrations, enhanced with chalk, watercolor and pencil. As in her recent On the Night You Were Born (2007), a menagerie of wildlife appears, from a crouching frog in a foggy pond to a mother and a baby tiger wrapped in flowering jungle vines, all preparing for sleep against detailed, luminescent backgrounds. When the text reaches the refrain, “So, go to sleep, my love,” the little girl is carried or nestled by panda, swan or reindeer. And just as the girl finally reaches sleep, the cast of creatures arrive by foot and hot-air balloon to bring her dreams to her. Readers of Tillman’s previous title will also recognize the reappearance of the glistening moon, this time at the quarter, which blows sparkles of light across the evening sky. A luxuriant bedtime retreat for children and parents alike.” — Kirkus Reviews

Metaxas discovers in this unsung hero a man of whom it can truly be said: he changed the world. Before Wilberforce, few thought slavery was wrong. After Wilberforce, most societies in the world came to see it as a great moral wrong. To mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British slave trade, HarperSanFrancisco and Bristol Bay Productions have joined together to commemorate the life of William Wilberforce with the feature-length film Amazing Grace and this companion biography, which provides a fuller account of the amazing life of this great man than can be captured on film.

This account of Wilberforce’s life will help many become acquainted with an exceptional man who was a hero to Abraham Lincoln and an inspiration to the anti-slavery movement in America.

PRAISE FOR AMAZING GRACE:

“This is unquestionably the best biography I have ever read!” — S. Michael Craven, President, Center for Christ and Culture

“Better than the movie!”  — Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani

“Bravo! Metaxas’s story reads like fiction! A masterful reintroduction to Wilberforce for our generation.– David S. Kidder, Creator/Co-Author NYTimes Bestseller The Intellectual Devotional

“…a superb introduction to history’s greatest and most surprising social reformer. It will jolt the cynical and inspire the visionary.”  –Os Guinness, author The Call

“Metaxas’s book, well researched and written in a lively and sparkling style, will stir your heart.”  –George Gallup, Jr.

“[M]agnificent! Metaxas’s work will stand as a living landmark.” –The Rev. Floyd Flake, President, Wilberforce University, Former U.S. Congressman (NY)

“If Wilberforce is your hero, as he is mine, this is the book for you.” –J.C. Watts, Jr., Former U.S. congressman (OK)

“Crackles with verve, intelligence, wit and insight.”–Dick Staub, broadcaster and author

“…a superb history of the British campaign against slavery.” — Stanley Crouch, NY Daily News

“[Metaxas] is an irresistible writer. ‘A crackling bonfire of truth and clarity’… [told] with such a sharp eye and ready wit and moral passion that we are caught up in the momentum of it and blown away…”– John Wilson, BOOKS&CULTURE

“A superb, scholarly “must-read” book!” –Baroness Caroline Cox, House of Lords

“Metaxas tells the tale of Wilberforce with great energy, sympathy, clarity, and aplomb.” –Thomas Howard, author Dove Descending: a journey into T.S. Eliot’s “Four Quartets”

“Spectacular!” – The Christian Century

“Fluidly told… a compelling example of faith that leads not to meditation only, but to reflection.” – First Things

“This may be the definitive book about Wilberforce. There are some that may be more detailed, but none which are so well-written, so engaging, so fabulously inspiring.”– Byron Borger, BookNotes

“I have not been able to put it down. It totally captivated me. Not only is it beautifully written, but the story is truly “an amazing grace”.   It is a book I treasure and will share with my friends.”  – Dr. Alice von Hildebrand, author, The Soul of a Lion

We all have questions about God. But very few of us get the answers we’re looking for–if those answers even exist! Do they? Where (in heaven’s name) do you go to find out?  Eric Metaxas understands. That’s why he’s written this refreshingly down-to-earth take on the big questions everyone asks (but not always out loud)…

READ WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING ABOUT Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (but were afraid to ask)…

For his stylish and entertaining treatment of this subject, Metaxas deserves a prize. —Dick Cavett

“I am absolutely smitten with this book! Easy (in the sense of moving right along) and fun to read, but packed with good stuff to chew on. I wanted to put every question and answer on file cards, so I could whip out the appropriate response when asked. And all with a wonderful sense of humor. Thank you, Eric, Thank you for writing this book! Every question in it I have asked, have heard asked, or want to ask! And the answers are so good humored and easy to read that you almost forget how profound they are.”
—Ann B. Davis,  Alice of “The Brady Bunch”

“The difficulty is not to gush. Eric has written a wise, funny, and disarming book, one which will, I’m sure, be handed around dorms, churches, and anywhere smart, curious people (both believers and unbelievers) can get their hands on it. We have had a tugging match with our own 21-year-old college student to see who gets to read it first in our house. We plan use it at Redeemer everywhere we can.”
—Tim Keller, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NYC

“Quick, witty, engaging, and often profound are words I use to describe my old friend and one-time colleague Eric Metaxas. This little book, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (But were Afraid to Ask) is vintage Metaxas. Good and profitable reading. —Chuck Colson

“An excellent primer on the most important questions of life, engagingly presented in question-and answer format. A timely and useful book for a searching, spiritually hungry America.”
—George Gallup, Jr., Founding Chairman of the George H. Gallup International Institute

“Rarely do a humorist, a logician and an orthodox theological popularizer inhabit the same skin, so — quick now! — join Eric Metaxas in this dialogue with skeptics and let him deftly disabuse you of your vexing bewilderments.”
—McCandlish Phillips, author and former New York Times reporter.

“Curious about God — even a little doubtful? Read this book, you’ll like it!”
—Dr. Paul C.Vitz, Professor of Psychology Emeritus, NYU

“Very theologically coherent and academically robust answers, written in a readable, informal and often witty style.  Brilliant!”
—The Baroness Cox, House of Lords, Westminster, London.

“It is a pleasure to recommend this book. It is written simply. It’s direct. It’s a book that doesn’t intend to impress the reader, but speaks to the reader, as a person would in a conversation. I’ve never encountered this subject dealt with so beautifully as it is dealt with in this book.”?—Bob Grant, host of The Bob Grant Show, WOR-Radio, and author of Let’s Be Heard

“Finally, a book of apologetics you can give your friends without cringing!”
—Lauren Winner, author of Girl Meets God
…[A] cheeky question-and-answer book addressing the most common questions people have about God. …Without a doubt, Metaxas is a clever and straightforward writer, fielding jokes right and left before hitting the reader with the hard stuff. (”Q: What happens when you die? A: Well it depends, but typically the lawn goes unmowed for a while…”) He then more seriously replies that we are either welcomed into God’s presence in heaven or banished for eternity to hell. …high marks for wit…  — Publisher’s Weekly

“I have never seen a book like Everything You Always Wanted To Know About God (but were afraid to ask). This is said as one who has been in the ministry for over 40 years. What Eric Metaxas has set before us is an extraordinary compendium of questions that people, inside and outside the Christian experience, find themselves asking. They are real questions – that are really asked – by real everyday people. The answers are concise and to the point. This is huge, because the temptation always, with any question, is to give such a lengthy answer that people get lost in the maze of words and ideas.”

“I love the way the book is organized. The questions are grouped together along certain themes. Example; Chapter 12: What About Heaven? With sub titles: What Happens When You Die; What Heaven Is; and Who Ends Up there. Not only are the questions grouped together around certain main themes, but it is great that each question naturally follows the preceding question and answer. It is almost as if the question and the following answer gets inside the mind of the reader and creates a running conversation. John R. W. Stott, the famous English Anglican christian leader and scholar, has said that preaching is thinking along with the person who is listening, anticipating the questions that you are raising as you speak, and then answering those questions. This is exactly what Everything You Always Wanted To Know About God does in the way the questions and answers follow along in a conversational sequence. Rather than it’s coming across as a monologue – it creates a dialogue.”

“Everything You Always Wanted To Know About God is an evangelist’s dream!  I have a heart for evangelism. Indeed, God has made me a gifted evangelist! Therefore, I would say that the one thing I am sorry about in reading this book is that I did not write it. It touches on the cultural issues that divide Christians and non-christians such as homosexuality, but in such a way as to draw the reader to the main issue – their relationship to God. It delves into “the paranormal” on the one hand and “intelligent design” on the other. It looks into “comparative religions,” like “where does Allah fit into anything,” and the “uniqueness of Christ” and the amazing claims He makes about Himself.  Everything You Always Wanted To Know About God is a must for any serious Christian’s arsenal in the evangelistic task.?—The Rev’d John Guest, Christ Church at Grove Farm, Sweickley, Pennsylvania

Amazon.com Review:

Certain ideas have been done to death, and parody as a form is particularly susceptible to this pitfall. But when a book takes an oft-attempted task and does it well, there is extra cause for celebration. Eric Metaxas and Marc Dennis’s Don’t You Believe It! accomplishes just such a feat.

Don’t You Believe It! parodies the venerable Robert Ripley’s “Believe It or Not!” newspaper cartoons that have been running (and parodied) since 1918. Metaxas and Dennis deserve kudos for following the oft-broken, but essential rule of parody: the send-up must mimic the original in every way–except content. And Don’t You Believe It! looks and sounds just like Ripley’s; the attention to detail, down to the oddly stilted, old-time quality of Metaxas’s text, makes the book’s looniness downright sublime.

If you’re not familiar with the original Ripley’s cartoons, Don’t You Believe It! is likely to leave you cold or at least a bit puzzled. But if you’ve ever read about the man who wore candles for a hat or the miner who got a steel bar lodged in his skull, this parody will have you laughing hard. Consider this phenomenon: “The Loco Schoolmaster, a hill in Paxtua, Mexico, gives travelers who ascend to its peak the temporary illusion of being much more educated than they actually are.”

If you aren’t entertained by geographic features, try wildlife: “Tanu, a pet goat in the village of Murai, Uganda, is the legal guardian to each of the village’s 78 inhabitants–she rose to this position through a series of maneuvers so stunningly Machiavellian in their nature that the entire region was turned upside down–and all who opposed her lost their lives!” Don’t You Believe It! will tickle you–believe it!

provided it grew to a certain length.

So it’s good to be clean-cut and handsome,

but not to be clean-cut and Samson.